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Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 1:19 pm
by marmidor
Shopping for our first pontoon. Wow, there are a lot to choose from. I am very interested in the Sylvan pontoon because of the fit and finish. It looks like a higher end boat but with a smaller price tag. The salesman tried to sell me on the RPT toons. I love the idea of going faster and being more stable but I don’t like what I have been reading on the RPT’s leaking. Does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone know if the RPT problems have been resolved?

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 1:52 pm
by ToonGuy
The early RPTs were terrible about leaking. They changed more then I would want to know under warranty. While I can't say for sure if it has been fixed, I do know most models (all?) have gone to a solid outside riser like most newer pontoons have. I would THINK this would fix the problem. I always wondered why on earth they didn't do that up front, if not for the strength it provides at least do it for looks. Seeing all those risers on a new high end toon is ugly!

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 5:00 pm
by Bamaman
The RPT's look good on paper, but they've got too many complex bends and welds. They're something to avoid.

I'd suggest one of the other popular brands of boats, like Bennington, Premier, Harris, Manitou, South Bay, Berkshire or many others. Even the makers of really luxurious pontoon/tritoon boats have 3-4 models of boats--many more reasonably priced.

I've had pontoons/tritoons since 1985, and am a believer of 22'+ long tritoons with lifting strakes and the biggest motor you can afford. Or, find a 2012-2013 used boat.

My new boat is a Bennington 24SSLX with Express tubes and a F150 Yamaha. Their S model is plush enough for me.

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:47 am
by MH Hawker
Avoid them like the clap.

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 5:47 pm
by dodger
We tried one out with the rpt tubes and felt they would "catch" when turning sharp. You could actually feel it. Not something we wanted when pulling tubes and making tighter turns.

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 8:02 am
by rdeterman
I have no complaints on ours. Of course ours are the revised 2.0 versions and we have a triple tube setup which probably handles better than a twin setup.

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 2:05 pm
by ron nh
I just got a real good quote on A 20' sylvan tri toon w/27" rpt tubes and a 150. I've read all the previous problems and have been told they do not have any problems in the last few years, I don't know. I also don't know if I can pass this up. that size tubes would be great for some rough riding up here. there has to be some you out there with rpt's. I'm curious about the handling and ride and if there are any remaining issues. I wasn't really looking at these boats but I guess I am now. not much recent info on the net thanks for any feedback. What did you "the author of thread" end up with?

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 8:44 am
by rdeterman
ron nh wrote:I just got a real good quote on A 20' sylvan tri toon w/27" rpt tubes and a 150. I've read all the previous problems and have been told they do not have any problems in the last few years, I don't know. I also don't know if I can pass this up. that size tubes would be great for some rough riding up here. there has to be some you out there with rpt's. I'm curious about the handling and ride and if there are any remaining issues. I wasn't really looking at these boats but I guess I am now. not much recent info on the net thanks for any feedback. What did you "the author of thread" end up with?

Buy it! You'll love it!

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 4:26 pm
by joe20toon
Buy it! You'll love it!
Kinda late posting, I missed this thread somehow. I have the 2.0 newer version and not a problem with the RPT. The "V" shaped bottom on the pontoons work great providing extra lift to plane out fast.

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 10:03 pm
by rsscoggins
With any luck, our new 8522 Mirage LES is at the dealer now or will be tomorrow - we got the tritoon with the RPT tubes.

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Fri May 27, 2016 3:11 am
by joe20toon
rsscoggins wrote:With any luck, our new 8522 Mirage LES is at the dealer now or will be tomorrow - we got the triton with the RPT tubes.
That's great. I'm sure you will like how it handles. I'm no expert but, it seems there's no need for strakes as the lift with the RPT hull works. That thing called a 'budget' held me back on 22' model.

Have you been on and piloted a 'regular' hull tritoon?

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Fri May 27, 2016 11:38 am
by rsscoggins
joe20toon wrote:
rsscoggins wrote:With any luck, our new 8522 Mirage LES is at the dealer now or will be tomorrow - we got the triton with the RPT tubes.
That's great. I'm sure you will like how it handles. I'm no expert but, it seems there's no need for strakes as the lift with the RPT hull works. That thing called a 'budget' held me back on 22' model.

Have you been on and piloted a 'regular' hull tritoon?
Yes with the RPT there is no need for lifting strakes. Yes budgets suck - I had some leeway because the previous boat was way more spendy than this one! But I didn't want to get into the HP and size spiral I was previously in with the go fast boats - the twin engine (twin 300 hp Verados) Harris was my initial desire but when I was the price tag ($121k sticker shock), I quickly readjusted what I really wanted from a pontoon. The 22 Sylvan tritoon with a 150 Yamaha satisfied everything we wanted without breaking the bank!

I have driven older pontoons with small motors. I test drove a Sylvan pontoon with a 150 (they didn't have the tritoon available for test drive). It did have the RPT toons but I didn't really have anything to compare it to.

Dealer called this morning and said our new boat would be ready for pickup tomorrow afternoon - unfortunately, it will be next week before I can get it as we are at the Jimmy Buffet concert this weekend and they are closed on Sunday/Monday.

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 10:30 am
by rsscoggins
Looks like Sylvan may be buying my boat back. Huge amount of issues in the short time that I have owned it.



EDIT: Didn't realize this was a thread related solely to leaking RPT tubes. Just for clarification, my issues are not related to RPT tubes leaking. I don't have any issues with the RPT tubes except that they do not perform at the speeds that were promised by the salesman or up to speed with other tritoons with lifting strakes.

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 11:02 am
by ron nh
You can't do that to us. What happened? We need the story.

Re: Sylvan RPT Toon's

Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 11:04 am
by rsscoggins
ron nh wrote:You can't do that to us. What happened? We need the story.
Not sure how much I can say until I get the paperwork from them and more importantly my $$ back!

But if anyone is considering a Sylvan pontoon, contact me via PM and we can chat.

EDIT: Didn't realize this was a thread related solely to leaking RPT tubes. Just for clarification, my issues are not related to RPT tubes leaking. I don't have any issues with the RPT tubes except that they do not perform at the speeds that were promised by the salesman or up to speed with other tritoons with lifting strakes.